Bangladesh coach Tom Saintfiet on Thursday recalled former national team captain Mamunul Islam to his 33-member preliminary squad for their AFC Asian Cup play-off second-leg against Bhutan, scheduled on October 10 in Thimpu.
The Belgian also included three new faces – winger Mohammad Ibrahim and strikers Saad Uddin and Sarwar Zaman Nipu.
Saintfiet dropped three players – striking pair Nabib Newaj Jibon, Mehdi Hasan Tapu and defender Ariful Islam from his 23-member final squad that played out a goalless draw in the home leg in Dhaka.
Saad and Nipu’s maiden call-up in the national team came as a surprise as they are now only warming the bench of their respective club in the Bangladesh Premier League.